El Niño hits 36 NegOcc villages, damage reaches P12.8-M

BACOLOD City – Damages caused by t he El Niño phenomenon in the province of Negros Occidental have now reached P12.8 million, a report from the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) showed.

Four additional l ocal government units (LGUs) have been affected by the dry spell, according to OPA data as of Tuesday, Feb. 6, which brings the total number to seven.

The affected localities are Isabela, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Moises Padilla, and Hinobaan, as well as the cities of Himamaylan and Sipalay.

A total of 346 hectares of rice fields and 373 farmers across 36 villages are affected, the data further showed.

Most affected areas are rainfed rice fields or farmlands that rely on rainfall instead of irrigation.

The OPA encouraged farmers to enroll in the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation and the provincial government’s crop insurance initiative.

Last month, at least 143 local farmers bore the brunt of the phenomenon, which affected a total of 117.22 hectares of rice fields in Negros Occidental.

Himamaylan has been hit the hardest, with eight barangays and 75 rice farmers affected.

The city’s rice l ands, spanning 59.22 hectares, suffered more than P2.4 million in damages.

Two villages were affected in Cauayan town, impacting two rice farmers and 52 hectares of crops, with damages estimated at P 4,105,000.

Earlier, O PA officerin- charge Dr. Dina Genzola emphasized that the affected rice fields are either in the vegetative or harvestable stage.

“Upon receiving t he reports, we swiftly dispatched agricultural extension workers to verify and assess the extent of the damages,” Genzola said.

“We hope that there will be no additional affected areas in the future,” she added.